Williams and Grant fell to the ground late in the first quarter of the Giants' 28-16 win Monday, when the Rams were using the no-huddle offense. The Rams contend the injuries seemed suspect, aimed at gaining a breather for the tired Giants defense.

"It gave them time to rest and recover because their tongues were hanging out," Rams center Jason Brown said Wednesday. The drive stalled, and the Rams settled for a field goal.

Grant begged to differ, telling the media in New York on Wednesday that he had hurt his knee on the previous play. He corroborated Sam Bradford's version of the story in part, saying one of his teammates told him to drop to the ground because he couldn't get off the field in time for a substitute.

"Usually, I'd suck it up," Grant told the New York media. "That particular play, they had a good momentum going, I'm like I know for a fact, they been driving the ball, I can't go to the sideline and can't get back to the middle field, I need to really go down."

Brown said that after Grant got up, "I chewed him out and said, 'You're not hurt.' And he just looked at me and smiled and walked off. We were talking a lot of trash at him. His teammates were all smiling because they knew exactly what was going on."

The hoo-ha led the NFL to issue a warning Wednesday that similar incidents could result in fines, suspensions or forfeiting draft picks.

The NFL memo stated: "Should the league office determine that there is reasonable cause, all those suspected in being involved in faking injuries will be summoned promptly to this office in New York."

The league emphasized, however, that it has no rule against players feigning injuries and will only discipline a player or coach if he admits to it.Coach Steve Spagnuolo said he hadn't read the league memo.

"I think the league, when they feel like there's something there, they try to make an emphasis on it," he said, but added, "How can you pass judgment on somebody who might be injured and say they're not? Then you have another whole issue."

Gordy promoted

To shore up the cornerback corps, the Rams promoted Josh Gordy from the practice squad. Gordy entered the league as an undrafted rookie out of Central Michigan by Jacksonville last May, spent 10 weeks on the Packers' practice squad last year and appeared in two games in December. The Rams signed him to their practice squad Sept. 6 after Green Bay released him.

"The challenge here was learning the playbook from scratch," Gordy said. "Being here was a plus. I guess they have confidence in me. When you're on the practice squad you can sit back and take it in, take time to study."

The addition of Gordy gives the Rams four healthy corners. Five of their compatriots have been placed on injured reserve, most recently Tim Atchison, who suffered a grade 2 hamstring strain in the loss to New York on Monday.

They've also added a jack of all trades. Gordy's father, David, owns a barbershop in Sandersville, Ga., where Josh has learned the fine art of cutting hair and has worked off and on since age 16.

"When I go home, I'm the fourth chair," he said. "It was a job from high school on through. In college, it came in handy. In Green Bay, I had a few rookies I was cutting, but the older guys, they already had someone. They didn't have confidence. It takes time to set that up."

He also might make a connection or two in the music business. His third cousin, Berry, founded the Motown record label."I haven't met him personally. That's one of my goals, now that I'm in the NFL," Gordy said.

The Rams filled Gordy's spot on the practice squad by re-signing running back Chase Reynolds, who was released a week ago.